World Boxing News 2010-2013

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor “Kid Chocolate” looks sweet in Reno Undefeated super-middleweight Peter Quillin kept his perfect record last night, with a dominant performance over former world title challenger Jesse Brinkley at the Reno Events Center. The 27 year-old clearly had too much for the former Contender star and inflicted the Yerington fighters worst defeat in thirteen years by stopping him in three rounds. New York-based Quillin, who is originally from Floyd Mayweather’s hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, had Brinkley, 34, in trouble from the off and could have finished him in the first round with a huge right hand. The end came in the third when Quillin unleashed a barrage of punches that Brinkley was unable to deal with and referee Joe Cortez felt the need to step in and wave the fight off. “Kid Chocolate” moves on to 24-0, with his 18th career knockout and will have the champions of the division in his sights in the coming months. Brinkley has now lost his last two bouts ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor “Money” looks set to lose place in as number two On Sunday 1st May, exactly one year on from his last victory over “Sugar” Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Floyd Mayweather Jr’s reign in the top two of the pound for pound rankings is set to finally come to an end after five years. The 34 year-old, who held the number one spot until Pacquiao convincingly out-classed Antonio Margarito last November, will move down one place for every three months he spends out of the ring and with no sign of a fight lined up, it could be a slippery slope for five-weight world champion, who has given no indication when he will get back in the ring. In total, the “Pretty Boy” has fought just twice in almost three and a half years, a sorry record for one of our generation’s most talented fighters and I just hope that he gets back in the ring sooner, rather than later. The fight we all want is Mayweather v Pacquaio of course, but at this moment, Mayweather seems more...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Second man to beat “Pacman” faces unbeaten Russian Medgoen Sinsurat (72-6, 49 KO’s), one of only two men to knockout pound for pound king Manny Pacquaio, has been added to the undercard of Denis Lebedev and Roy Jones Jr’s forthcoming non-title cruiserweight contest at the Krylatskoe Sport Complex in Moscow, Russia. The 32 year-old beat the WBO welterweight champion in three rounds twelve years ago to claim the WBC flyweight title, his only world title, which he held for eight months, making two successful defences. The Thai fighter then lost the title to Malcolm Tunacao in May 2000 and has only ventured into world class once since then, a first round KO defeat to three-time world champion Jorge Arce in 2007. “3-K Battery” now takes on undefeated Russian Alexander Bakhtin, who has, on paper, an awesome looking 26-fight record. Bakhtin, 29, fought most of his career in Japan and held the Japanese bantamweight title for a record nine defences, before return...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor (Picture by Brendan Pierpaoli) Bundrage says title defence could happen, but offer has to be right IBF light-middleweight champion Cornelius “K9” Bundrage (30-4, 18 KO’s) has denied reports that his potential rematch with Sechew Powell (26-2, 15 KO’s) is signed and sealed for June 26th on the Devon Alexander v Lucas Matthysse undercard in St. Louis. It had been first thought, by WBN included, that the rematch of their original 2005 meeting, won by Poweell, was all set and agreed for the summer. The former Contender star has stated that an agreement can be reached for his first defence of the title, but has not been finalized yet. “The fight is not signed!” Bundrage told WBN. “I will know more about it in a couple weeks. They just have it listed on boxrec, It might happen but they have to get that contract right, nothing is signed as of yet.” The first meeting between the the 38 year-old champion and Powell, 31, in May 2005 ended dramatically after ...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor Hopkins looking become oldest champion of all time When Bernard Hopkins steps into the ring on May 21st in Quebec, Canada to face WBC Light-Heavyweight Champion Jean Pascal, the former middleweight king has the opportunity to smash George Foreman's 17-year record. If the 46 year-old can overcome the younger champion on his home soil and take his WBC 175lb Title, "B-Hop" will beat "Big" George's record by almost six months and claim the sixth world title of his glittering career. Two-time heavyweight champion Foreman, was 45 years and 299 days when he defeated Michael Moorer for the WBA and IBF Heavyweight Tiltles in 1994 and Hopkins could beat that record by 162 days on the night - re-writing the boxing record books. Hopkins (51-5-2, 32 KO's), held all four of the middleweight titles between 2004 and 2005 and reigned as champion of the division for nearly ten years. He has since campaigned at light-heavyweight after l...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Previously undefeated welterweight prospect has a point to prove as he awaits comeback fight Former WBC Youth world welterweight champion James De la Rosa is still reflecting on his first defeat in 21 bouts. "The King's" career unravelled in front of his eyes in January as he was put down three times against Allen Conyers (12-4), before losing a tight points decision in Michigan. De La Rosa, 23, had knocked out twelve of his first twenty opponents before losing to Conyers, with ten in the first three rounds and also boasts the only career defeat inflicted on up and coming USBA light-welterweight champion Tim Coleman, whom he out-pointed in 2008. De la Rosa captured the WBC Youth title as a 19 year-old in 2007, a belt which has previously been held by American light-welterweight champions Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander, more recently though, by Mexican starlet Saul Alvarez. The US-based Mexican is awaiting news of his next oppone...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Larkin: Boxing giant WBN remembers a true boxing catalyst One of the most powerful men in the boxing television business, Jay Larkin passed away in August last year at the age of 59 and here at WBN, we are marking some of his greatest achievements. Larkin created Showtime, Championship Boxing and ShoBox as pay-per-view phenomenons from 1984-2005 working with the likes on Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis in their prime. Born in Long Island, he rose from publicist to senior vice president and executive producer in a remarkable career that spanned over two decades in the boxing business. In the 1980’s, Jay was involved in bringing Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard to the small screen and worked with the great Julio Cesar Chavez amongst a whole host of other big name boxing stars. His greatest achievements though will forever be Tyson v Holyfield I and II, which on their nights were the biggest ever grossing boxing nigh...

“I wasn't sure if I was going to fight or retire for good” – Juan Diaz Juan Diaz first started boxing at the age of 8 and went on to have over 100 amateur fights, losing only five in a career that saw the young fighter qualify to represent Mexico at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. As Juan was only 16 at the time, it was announced he wouldn’t be allowed to compete in Sydney so the “Baby Bull” decided to delve straight in to the pro ranks three months before his 17th birthday. He duly despatched Rafael Ortiz who was four years his senior with a first round KO and went on to win his next 23 fights, capturing the WBC Youth World Lightweight Title along the way. In July 2004, Juan was given the opportunity to fight Lakva Sim on his home soil in Houston, Texas for the WBA Lightweight Title and dominated the Mongolian to dethrone the champion in his first defence. Juan followed up the title victory with another one sided points victory, this time over the experie...

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor “I want to fight whoever thinks they are the best in my division” – Steve Cunningham Steve “USS” Cunningham earned his nickname from his four year stint with the US Navy in the mid 90's, serving on aircraft carriers USS America and USS Enterprise. In his early boxing career, Steve won the national Golden Gloves title at 178 lbs in 1998 and amassed over 60 amateur fights before turning professional in 2000. His first pro fight was a split decision victory over little known Norman Jones at Jarrell’s Gym in Georgia, Jones was also fighting in his debut professional fight and has since gone on the challenge for the US Light-Heavyweight twice. Losing both times. Steve followed up his debut victory up with another points win over Robert Marsh before embarking on eight fight knockout streak, five of which were first round demolitions. After extending his unbeaten run to 19-0, including another split decision win, this time over...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor (ROUND 1) What was your first gym “K-9”? My first gym was the world famous Kronk gym in Detriot which is now closed. (ROUND 2) Who influenced you as a young boxer? I’d have to say the young Mike Tyson, who destroyed the heavyweight division in the mid 80’s. (ROUND 3) Who is the toughest opponent you have faced? I’d have to say Kassim Ouma, who I went a tough ten rounds with in March 2008, I won a unanimous decision. (ROUND 4) Who would you like to fight now that you’re the IBF Champ? I’d love to face Manny Pacquiao. I have respect for him but think I could beat him. (ROUND 5) What’s the best fight you have seen? Thomas Hearns v Sugar Ray Leonard in 1981. (ROUND 6) Who is your favourite current fighter? I just like boxing so couldn’t name a favourite fighter. (ROUND 7) What’s your motivation Cornelious? Jesus Christ. ( ROUND 8) What would you change about boxing? Fighter’s retiring broke with no idea of who they are. (ROUND...

It has been brought to the attention of Hatton Promotions that false and inaccurate comments have been attributed to Ricky Hatton on a social networking site. The Facebook page in question has absolutely no links with Hatton Promotions or Ricky. Lawyers are now taking the necessary steps to have the offending remarks removed and all unofficial Facebook pages using Ricky’s and Hatton Promotions name closed down. Hatton said : “This rubbish that has been printed makes me feel sick to my stomach. Please,  please do not believe a word of it.  “Of course, I am well known as a Manchester City supporter but any rivalry I have with Manchester United is good humoured banter. “I would never ever make nasty comments about their players or the club’s long history in private or public. “My younger brother, Matthew is a United fan. I am friends with Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand. Wayne even carried my belt into the ring when I fought Jose Luis Castillo in Las Vegas. “I ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor “The Real McCoy” eyeing comeback after prison sentence Scotland’s former world featherweight champion Scott Harrison has announced that he is already in training for his next fight after spending over two-years in a Spanish prison for assault and plans to re-apply for his boxing licence on his return to Britain. The 33 year-old, who held the WBO 126lb title for three years in two spells, making seven successful defences, has been out of the ring since a 2005 victory over Nedal Hussein. The Glasgow-based former British and Commonwealth champion told his father/trainer Peter that he will be ready to resume his career on his release in a couple of months. "Scott's not finished with boxing, far from it. He is hungry to come back and I sense a real desire in him,” Peter Harrison told The Daily Record . "His career is not over and I am glad to say that. If he gets the chance he will take it I am certain of it. He loves boxing and the ring is ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Date and venue finalized for eagerly awaited unification WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has finally confirmed that he will square off against WBA title holder and arch-rival David Haye in a four-belt unification bout in Hamburg, Germany on July 2nd. Both fighters have agreed on a 50-50 purse for the bout and after over two-years of wrangling, the two fighters will finally have a  focal point for their heavyweight grudge match, with German football club Hamburger SV’s impressive 57,000 capacity Imtech Arena rubberstamped to host the summer bout. Klitschko, 35, is undefeated in over seven years and has a formidable 58 fight record, with 55 victories, whilst 30 year-old Haye has just one loss in his 26 bouts. The Londoner holds an unbeaten three-year record since moving up to heavyweight after unifying the cruiserweight division and will retire from boxing in October. Should the “Hayemaker” be successful in the summer, he cou...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor “Baby Bull” wants two fights this year after year away from boxing Former unified lightweight champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz (35-4, 17 KO’s) will return to boxing this summer after a self-imposed year out of the ring and has warned his 135lb rivals that he is coming after his former world titles. The 27 year-old from Texas took stock of his next career move after losing his IBF, WBA and WBO titles in 2008 to Nate Campbell. He then went on to lose three out his next five bouts, with his last defeat coming against Juan Manuel Marquez in July last year and now feels ready to return to action. “I am looking to fight in June or July in the lightweight division,” Diaz told WBN. “My goal by the end of this year is to have gotten two fights under my belt and start collecting my belts back by early next year.” The two-time world champion boasts impressive victories over Paulie Malignaggi and Michael Katsidis in his career so far and will no doubt have the boxi...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Tough Aussie fighter aims to come back with a win Although he ultimately faced another disappointment in the United States last Saturday, Michael Katsidis’ trainer Brendon Smith praised his fighter, before revealing that his charge will have some time away from the sport, before hopefully returning victorious. The 30 year-old lost for the second time in a row in Las Vegas in another "Fight of the year" contender against Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero. The Aussie gave everything to the cause for the duration of the fight, which has almost become his trademark of late and is what the American public expects of “The Great”. “It’s still too early to make any decisions,” Smith stated to finda.com.au “The thing is Michael is fighting the best in the division. Guerrero is a two-time world champion and was the number one contender and we fought a future Hall of Fame boxer in Marquez before that. “I think it’s important his next fight is a win, but we’l...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor “El Terrible” turns back the clock in Las Vegas A 34 year-old Erik Morales showed he still had the heart he’s shown his whole career and backed it up with accurate punching and a solid defence to take an off-colour Marcos Maidana the full twelve rounds, before going down to a majority decision on the judges cards. The three-weight world champion started slowly in the first two rounds and was hurt by a wicked left hook by the Argentinean in the first round, which virtually closed his right eye straight away and left the Mexican warrior hampered for the remainder of the fight. It took Morales till the third round to get settled into the fight, but he dominated the next three rounds, stunning Maidana with his accuracy and raising questions as to whether the two-time world title challenger had prepared properly for the fight. The 27 year-old did come into the fight through rounds six, seven, eight and nine, but never discouraged Morales, who kept coming ...

Erik Morales v Marcos Maidana (Interim  WBA light-welterweight title ) MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA                               Morales                       Maidana           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------            Round 1                                          9                                 10           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor “The Ghost” claims landslide points victory over tough Aussie Former IBF 126 and 130lb champion Robert Guerrero (29-1-1, 18 KO’s ) took a huge step into the upper echelons of the lightweight and world pound for pound rankings with a dominant display over twelve rounds against a never-say-die Michael Katsidis (27-4, 22 KO’s) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The 28 year-old kept the rugged Australian at bay with a strong southpaw jab and powerful combinations, frustrating “The Great” right till the end to claim wide points win. The Californian started the better and got straight into his rhythm until midway through the second round, “The Ghost” was then put down by a huge shot by Kastidis, which referee Russell Mora did not see. Guerrero recovered well from what would be Katsidis best moment in the fight and got straight back to dominating Katsidis behind the jab until the eighth round, when the Aussie changed tactics and launched a body assault, only t...

Michael Katsidis v Robert Guerrero (Interim WBA and WBO lightweight titles ) MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA                               Katsidis                         Guerrero           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------            Round 1                                        9                                    10           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor “Brixton Bomber” scores first round win, as expected In another apparently pointless exercise, former two-time British heavyweight champion Danny Williams scored the 33rd knockout of his 16-year career, by stopping a disinterested Laszlo Toth in less than a minute of their scheduled ten-round contest in Hamburg. The 37 year-old has continued his career against the wishes of the British Board of Boxing Control on a Latvian boxing license and easily had too much for the Hungarian to improve his record to 43-9. Former Mike Tyson conquerer Williams seems intent on prolonging his career as rumours surfaced after the bout that he will fight again next month against a better opponent. It may not be enough to persuade the BBBC to license Williams in his native country, but if the Londoner can step up his opposition considerably and show he can mix it with some top heavyweight contenders, it may be enough to show the board that they may have been a little hasty in...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor DPW carries on despite the advice of the British board Two-time British heavyweight champion Danny Williams (42-9, 32 KO’s) continues his European adventure tonight, against the wishes of the British Boxing Board of Control who have asked “The Brixton Bomber” to step away from the sport after a series of bad defeats and a lack of motivation at times. The 37 year-old retired from boxing after a bad knockout defeat to Dereck Chisora in May 2010 and had his license revoked by the board in June last year. Instead of re-applying to the board though, the former world title challenger obtained a Latvian boxing license and kept his initial return last month to himself. Williams then fought a much smaller man in Frank Roth, who was giving away 68lbs when the two met in Bielefeld on March 5th. Obviously Williams came through the bout with an easy knockout and then stated that he just wanted to end his career with a win, which now turns out not to be the case. He ...

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Russian cruiserweight teams up with former world champ Former Russian light-heavyweight champion Denis Lebedev (21-1, 16 KO’s) has joined forces with former undisputed light-welterweight champion Kotsya Tszyu as he prepares to take on American Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr (54-7-0, 40 KO’s) in Moscow on the 21st of May. The 31 year-old is one the back of his only career loss to date, a controversial split decision defeat against WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck in December and will be looking to get back to winning ways. Lebedev racked up eight straight wins at 200lbs after a four-year absence from the sport between 2004-2008 after previously winning the Russian 175lb title in only his third fight. The eccentric southpaw has now joined the Russian-born Australian Tszyu’s Rockdale gym and will train under the guidance of the former 140lb star as he prepares to face the aging former light-heavyweight king, who continues to box despite losing six out ...

SATURDAY 26th MARCH D mitry Pirog  bt Javier Maciel  ( UD ) ( 117-111, 115-111, 115-112 ) ( WBO middleweight title ) Yuriorkis Gamboa  bt Jorge Solis  ( TKO ) ( 4th round ) ( WBA "Super"   featherweight title ) *IBF title now vacant after Gamboa failed to re-weigh-in Takalani Ndlovu bt  Steve Molitor  ( UD ) ( 118-110, 118-110, 116-112 ) ( IBF super-bantamweight title ) Moruti Mthalane  bt Johnriel Casimero  ( TKO ) ( 5th round ) ( IBF flyweight title ) Tshifhiwa Munyai bt Danilo Pena  ( UD ) ( 120-108, 118-108, 119-109 ) (vacant  IBO super-bantamweight title ) Thomas Oosthuizen bt Evert Bravo  ( KO ) ( 9th round ) (vacant IBO super-middleweight title ) Denton Vassell bt Bethuel Ushona  ( UD ) (1 18-111, 117-112, 117-113 ) (Commonwealth welterweight title) FRIDAY 25th MARCH Pongsaklek Wonjongkam bt Muhammad Nurfawaid  ( TKO ) ( 5th round ) ...